A/N: SORRY FOR THE WAIT AND THE SHORTNESS OF THIS CHAPTER. I HAVE NO EXCUSES OTHER THAN WRITERS BLOCK AND LACK OF FOCUS. HOPEFULLY IT WILL PICK UP AFTER THIS.
Payson stood frozen in the middle of the deserted arena and just breathed. She closed her eyes to try and take it all in, wanting to imprint everything about this day in her memory. The smell of the arena, a mixture of chalk and sweat, the chill of the air, the feel of the mat under her feet; she never wanted to forget a second of it.
A slow clapping from the edge of the floor brought her back to reality and a giddy smile spread across her face. In one graceful motion, Payson spun around and sprinted towards the lone figure across the mat.
A surprised look flashed across Austin's face at her uncharacteristic behavior, but he had no trouble catching her as she flung herself at him. He was enveloped in a cloud of blonde waves and subtle vanilla perfume as he hugged her close and spun her in fast circles. Quiet giggles filled the air and Austin couldn't stop his own laughter at such an unusual sound for the normally serious blonde.
Payson held tight, her arms around his neck, losing herself in the smell of leather, peppermint and something she could only classify as pure Austin.
"We did it." Payson breathed into his neck and Austin couldn't suppress a shiver as goosebumps raced across his skin.
"You did it Pace." He whispered back and she could hear the pride in his voice. She thought back to all the times she had wanted to quit since her petition had been denied in Calais and how in almost every single one of them Austin had been there; helping, pushing, encouraging. How many times had she been on the verge of tears only to hear him say 'I don't believe you can do it Pace. I know.'
Payson leaned back so she could look in his eyes. "Thank you for knowing Aus." She said, giving him a soft smile. "Even when I didn't. I don't think I could have done it without you."
Austin smiled brightly back at her. "Nothing in the world could have made me be anywhere else." He squeezed her tight one last time before letting her slide down his body until her feet hit the mat.
He looked down at her and burst out in laughter. At Payson's confused look, Austin nodded down at her. I think you'll need an extra-long shower tonight Pace."
Payson blushed and looked down to see her previously pristine white leo smeared with the red and blue paint from Austin's body. There was a red line down the middle from the 1 and more smudges of red where Payson had been so carefully written along with a tinge of blue from the rest of his body. Shw was sure that if she could see the back there would be blue handprints right above her butt.
She beamed up at him. "It's perfect. Now I'll always have a reminder of just what you did for me."
He gave her a brilliant smile and wrapped an arm around her. "Well, Miss World Champion, are we ready to get out of here?"
Payson took a deep breath and looked around one last time, leaned comfortably into his side.
"Yeah, I'm good. Let's go home."
DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING THAT YOU RECOGNIZE, JUST THE PLOT AND THE CHANGES TO THE ORIGINAL STORY LINE.